Facelift in Chicago — Michael E. Nissan, M.D.

Overview

The facelift is one of the most reliable and enduring operations in aesthetic surgery. Its purpose is not to make a face look different; it is to restore the face to an earlier version of itself, with the same underlying character intact.

Over time, the face descends under the influence of gravity. The result is a heaviness along the jawline, jowls, blunted neckline, and descent of the cheeks. A well-executed facelift addresses these structural changes at their source by repositioning the deeper tissues to where they once sat, and re-draping the skin naturally over the restored foundation.

The result is a restoration of the face to a more youthful position without any evidence of surgery.

Who is a Candidate

The best candidates for facelift surgery are patients in good health who have at least one of the following aging changes: neck laxity, neck muscle banding, blunted neckline, jowls, looseness along the jawline, cheek descent, or loose skin. Candidacy for facelift is anatomy-dependent, not age-dependent. That said, advancing age contributes to the aforementioned anatomic changes seen in the face. Patients typically seek facelift in their 40s, 50s, and 60s, although certain circumstances such as loose tissue quality or weight loss may make patients a candidate for facelift surgery earlier in life.

A facelift addresses the structure of the face — not skin quality, sun damage, or fine surface lines. These are best prevented with high-quality, long-term skincare. Skin changes can be treated with adjunct treatments such as laser resurfacing or chemical peel.

What to Expect

Every case begins with an unhurried consultation. Dr. Nissan will examine the face, discuss what you notice and what you hope to change, and offer a candid opinion on what a facelift can and cannot do for you.

Surgery is typically performed under general anesthesia. Bruising and swelling are most pronounced in the first week, resolve substantially by two to three weeks, and continue to refine over months. Most patients are comfortable returning to social settings by two to three weeks. The final result continues to settle over the first year.

Frequently Asked

How long does a facelift last?

This is a difficult question to answer because it depends on how longevity is defined. A facelift typically produces a result that reverses ten to fifteen years of the structural aging changes of the face. A facelift cannot stop the underlying aging process — patients continue to age from the point of surgery forward, but from a younger baseline. So from one perspective, you could say that a facelift lasts ten to fifteen years. From another perspective, you could say that a facelift lasts forever, because the tissues are reset to a more youthful position that, although still subject to the aging process, will continue to exhibit less laxity at any age than if the patient never had a facelift.

Will people know I had surgery?

The intent, and the most reliable outcome of a properly executed facelift, is that people notice you look well without being able to identify any evidence of surgery. Incisions are placed within the natural creases in front of and behind the ear, along the hairline, and beneath the chin, and are designed to become nearly invisible over time. Scar quality is equally patient-dependent as it is surgeon-dependent and can never be guaranteed. That said, facelift scars tend to heal inconspicuously, and our practice uses scar treatment strategies to maximize the result.

Is a facelift painful?

Most patients describe the recovery as tight and uncomfortable rather than painful. Discomfort is managed with a short course of medication in the first several days, although most patients end up not needing any.

Can a facelift be combined with other procedures?

Yes. Facelift is frequently combined with neck lift, upper or lower blepharoplasty, brow lift, and skin resurfacing. Combining procedures under a single anesthetic often produces the most cohesive result and can shorten total recovery time compared with staged operations.

When should I begin thinking about a facelift?

There is no correct answer. Some patients pursue surgery in their thirties and forties for early signs of laxity; others wait until their seventies. The right time is when the visible changes begin to interfere with how you feel.

Do you perform the deep plane facelift?

Yes. Dr. Nissan is trained in the deep plane facelift as well as other modern approaches, and selects the technique that best serves each patient’s anatomy.

What happens at the consultation?

The consultation is a conversation as much as an examination. We will take your photos, and Dr. Nissan will ask what you notice in the mirror. He will discuss the underlying anatomy driving those observations and recommend the treatment strategy that best serves your goals.